Fashion/Personal stylist for DD

Anonymous
I am looking for recommendations for a fashion/personal stylist for my 14yr old DD. My daughter has scoliosis and was fitted for a brace right before the beginning of Covid restrictions last March. She was terrified about having to change for P.E. and just that someone might see it at school. Doing distance learning was a blessing in disguise for her.

She spent last spring and summer wearing a couple of large t-shirts. Our pool was closed and we canceled all our summer plans. She was fine in winter as she wears oversized sweaters and flannel shirts.
However, now that we are going back to school 4 days a week DD would like more options. She and I did some online shopping this weekend but really could not come up with many options that she liked. She has a couple of Vineyard Vine tees and a Simply Southern tee shirt, but she would like more variety. I purchased a Champion tee and a Vans tee but those were rejected.
Everything seemed to be to short or tight to cover the brace. DD is tall, she is 5’9” so wears adult sizes.

She needs someone who can give her options that cover the brace but are stylish. We set an appointment with a Nordstrom stylist but just wanted to check here to see if others have had this issue.
Anonymous
I would also make an appointment with a counselor. Your daughter shouldn’t be worried about people seeing her brace. It’s a brace! It’s not a defect.
Anonymous
Haven’t had that exact issue, but just to note - those flowy, boho style dresses are really in right now! Even at target, lots of not-fitted, loose dresses.

A classmate actually had scoliosis surgery with a cast on her torso during high school. Everyone knew and just understood why she had the cast. She dressed fairly normal in comfy clothes. I do remember she sometimes got hot, so not sure if the brace might cause your daughter to get too warm - may not want to count on the layers to cover the brace in case she gets warm. That classmate wasn’t teased or anything for her brace, so I hope that is encouraging. Of course, this was back in the 90s when some of us had to wear headgear for our orthodontics in public!!!

Best wishes to your daughter. I do have a strange back issue, so I understand a bit.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I would also make an appointment with a counselor. Your daughter shouldn’t be worried about people seeing her brace. It’s a brace! It’s not a defect.


OP here. DD is in a support group for girls with scoliosis and many of the girls express discomfort from others seeing the brace. As you can imagine it is followed with lots of questions about information she (and rightly so) considers private. I think it is a natural reaction for a 14 yr old.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would also make an appointment with a counselor. Your daughter shouldn’t be worried about people seeing her brace. It’s a brace! It’s not a defect.


OP here. DD is in a support group for girls with scoliosis and many of the girls express discomfort from others seeing the brace. As you can imagine it is followed with lots of questions about information she (and rightly so) considers private. I think it is a natural reaction for a 14 yr old.


+1 Your daughter's reaction is completely typical, and I say this as someone who works with teens and tweens in a therapeutic setting. I would be uncomfortable about my brace, too, and I am a 50+ year old woman.

I applaud you, OP, for being proactive. I hope someone has a recommendation. Mine would have been a personal shopper at Nordstrom but you're already doing that. I like the idea of a stylist who works with a bunch of different stores. The personal shopper at Nordstrom may have some suggestions after your shopping trip.

Hugs to you and your daughter!
Anonymous
I don't have recommendations for a personal shopper....just a suggestion to check out stores that have Tall/Long lines. Athleta has styles that are meant to be blousy and long. Swing tanks, peasant blouses or empire/drop waist styles may also be good options.

And it seems like the 90's are back so I would think there are a lot of options that are looser.

Good luck to your daughter!
Anonymous
Good luck, I just wanted to jump in to say it might be worth it to have some clothing altered?
Tailors associated with dry cleaners are generally not that expensive, then you can buy slightly larger and have it fitted where she needs it and leave it roomier around the brace. Nordstrom may have tailors available as well.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Good luck, I just wanted to jump in to say it might be worth it to have some clothing altered?
Tailors associated with dry cleaners are generally not that expensive, then you can buy slightly larger and have it fitted where she needs it and leave it roomier around the brace. Nordstrom may have tailors available as well.


This is where the Nordstrom credit card is worth it - it includes up to a certain amount of alternations per year on clothes and is quick to deal with once you already have stuff on in the dressing room with your shopper.

Kudos to you for really hearing your DD on this and working with her to lessen her discomfort. My child has a visible scar and moves in and out of wanting to conceal it and/or not care if others can see it. We just roll with her own comfort level whenever she expresses it.
Anonymous
This may be a difficult sell to a teen, but try some of the "modest" fashion websites - they are marketed towards religious conservatives and range from dowdy to cute, but they might have a few things that cover up the areas your DD is concerned about.
Anonymous
I’ve used stylist Kristi Berkland at Nordstrom Pentagon City a few times anc she is terrific. Very low pressure, kind and supportive.
Good luck to your daughter. My sister had the same thing and it’s not easy.
Anonymous
I was coming here to say the Nordstrom stylist option. That and the tailoring do really help.

Also, if you haven’t read the Judy Blume book Deenie about a teenage girl with scoliosis, you or your daughter might enjoy it. I’m sure it’s dated (1970s) but that’s what your story reminded me of. (Gen X kid here says hi!)
Anonymous
I agree that you should look at sites that have long/tall sizes for shirts. Old Navy, Gap, Athleta are good places to shop.
Also, men's shirts run a lot longer so if she is into graphic t-shirts it would be worth looking in those sections.


I am tall and have 3 girls heading towards 6'.


Anonymous
Also, my daughter is 13 and shops for t-shirts at PacSun, urban outfitters, hollister, Abercrombie and American Eagle. They may have more options. Obviously not with a stylist though.
Anonymous
Another recommendation for the Nordstrom personal shopper. I would recommend calling the manager at the Tyson’s location, or whoever is in charge of the personal shoppers at the Tyson’s store, and asking them to set you up with the stylist that will be the best fit for what you and your daughter are looking for. Shopping appointments are easier when you’re looking for options and not sure what will work. Also, the Nordstrom tailoring service is pretty good.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:This may be a difficult sell to a teen, but try some of the "modest" fashion websites - they are marketed towards religious conservatives and range from dowdy to cute, but they might have a few things that cover up the areas your DD is concerned about.


OP please do not do this.

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